‘I am not done yet’
24 Jun 2011
In an exclusive interview with MARK KEOHANE for Business Day Sport Monthly, John Smit insists he is the right man to lead the World Cup defence and that he has plenty still left in the tank.
‘It would be the act of a coward,’ insists John Smit. ‘Only a coward would be that selfish to bail out in the belief it will preserve a legacy.
‘In fact,’ he says, ‘to shy away from the challenge of defending the World Cup because the Boks may lose and I may be remembered as a captain who lost a World Cup and not one who won it … no … no … that’s not why we play the game. It has to be about the challenge; about doing something incredible; about creating history … this team is good enough to defend the 2007 title and I believe I have a contribution to make. If we lose I want to be at the heart of the battle and not all suited up sitting in a corporate suite listening to people say that if I had been there it would have been different, and me reflecting on how we won the 2007 World Cup.
‘The motivation, though, is to be there if we win … and I believe we can win. I believe we are a better squad now than in 2007 and we were a very good squad at that tournament.’
Smit is South Africa’s most celebrated and experienced Springbok captain. Outside a home unions Grand Slam tour victory he has led the Boks to every success. In the past seven years the Boks have won the World Cup, won the Tri-Nations, beaten the British & Irish Lions, never lost a home series, won at Twickenham, beaten France, beaten every team, won in Australia and (the apex for any Bok player) won against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
Many expected Smit to call time on his international career after the Boks beat the All Blacks in Hamilton, New Zealand, in 2009 to win the Tri-Nations. It would have been the fairytale ending.
A World Cup in 2007, a British & Irish Lions series win in 2009 and the Tri-Nations a few months later, with the All Blacks having been beaten (by the Boks) in three successive Tests, including Smit’s first-ever international success against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
‘Go now,’ screamed 2007 World Cup-winning coach Jake White. ‘You have nothing left to achieve. Which guy climbs Everest to plant a flag only to climb it again to take out the flag?’
White’s constant public condemnation of Smit refusing to quit international rugby was more than an irritation admits Smit, but he doesn’t believe it was the only reason the media started hammering him and elements within the public started calling for his axing.
‘Playing for the Springboks means there is no easy ride, no escape and never a place to hide. Captaining them means the scrutiny is even more intense. The rewards when things are going well are immense; the flip side is the vitriol is as hectic when you don’t play well and the team doesn’t win. I have no problem with that,’ says Smit. ‘I have always felt the media has been fair to me in their praise and criticism. It certainly didn’t help having Jake telling the media every week how out of shape I was and that my time as a Bok was over and that he wouldn’t pick me as a hooker. But I had to look at my own performances; what the team was doing and my influence in the team and on us potentially winning the 2011 World Cup.
‘Decisions about 2011 could never have been made in 2011, from senior players and from the coaching staff. Some people may not get that. A lot of planning has gone into this World Cup defence, and I think we all learnt lessons from the 1999 campaign when Gary Teichmann was dropped three months before the tournament, having led the team since 1996. His experience and his value as a player were definitely missed and [Bok coach in 1999] Nick Mallett has conceded he would have done things differently in hindsight.
‘None of us who were there in Paris in 2007 wanted to have to rely on hindsight post-2011, be it because we weren’t there or because we weren’t in the condition to be there.
‘If I or some of the senior players were doubting whether we could go the distance to 2011 then we had to make that call in 2009. It would have been improper and damn insulting to what we have tried to build as a squad since 2004 to play a waiting game.
‘We all had to commit to defending the title in New Zealand in 2011 after we won the British & Irish Lions series or we had to get out and give Peter [de Villiers] and his coaches two years to introduce new players and mould a team for the World Cup.
‘I made the decision in 2009 to stay and it was based on my belief that no World Cup winning squad has ever had as good a chance of defending the title. It has never been done and I want to be a part of something that hasn’t been done. As I already said, I owe it to myself to be on the field and not in the stands. If I gave it up in 2009 and the squad defended the title I’d have to live with a lot of regret and regret is not something I ever want to carry with me post-rugby. I’d rather take the risk of losing and being there, being true to myself and what I believe I can contribute.’
Those who refuse to acknowledge Smit’s value to a winning 2011 Bok campaign will argue Smit being at the World Cup weakens the team and will single out the 2010 season and Smit’s form as an international prop. It is not something he hasn’t heard before.
‘I started playing for the Boks in 2000. Then I couldn’t scrum, I didn’t have enough mongrel to be a Test hooker, I wasn’t strong enough, big enough, crazy enough and … and … and … pick whichever one you want. I have heard them all, at least one of them every time before every one of my 102 Tests. I am my biggest critic. I don’t kid myself and I have a support base of family and close friends who wouldn’t allow me that illusion or luxury.
‘When my form has not been up to standard I have taken it on the chin, put in more work and tried to fix it. I have never doubted my ability,’ he says. ‘I believe I do add value to the Boks’ World Cup campaign and that my overall contribution as a captain and player with 102 Tests makes the squad stronger, but I also believe I am owed no favours and expect none. If Peter said to me that for the Boks to win the World Cup it would mean me not starting a game at the World Cup I’d sign on the dotted line. It has to be team first and individual aspirations second. It has always been what has made this core of players so successful. I’d know if being there was a negative because there are too many of us who have been together since 2004 and those strong personalities wouldn’t tolerate a passenger. They’d have wished me well, thanked me, suited me up and sent me on my way to that corporate suite.’
In a 2009 interview with SA Rugby magazine Smit said: ‘I don’t want to be the guy who keeps going long after he should have called it a day. I’ve felt sorry for players who have tried to keep going when all the signs were pointing at the door. I hope it will never be me.’
I recall the interview and his quote and suggest there are people feeling sorry for him. And the sympathetic ones are some of his biggest supporters. Smit concedes 2010 was not a good year, but says 2006 was equally horrible.
‘We were a minute away from a sixth successive Bok defeat in Rustenburg against the All Blacks. They were 20-18 ahead and they gave away the silliest of penalties. If it wasn’t for Andre Pretorius’ winning kick we would have all been gone by the end-of-year tour. Jake wouldn’t have survived, I would have been gone with him and a new coach would probably have done an overall on the squad.
‘A year later we were world champions with the same players. You need good fortune in sport and you also need to never give up on yourself if you truly believe you have it. I believe this squad does still have it. In fact, they had it more than four years ago because we as individuals and a unit have matured and grown enormously in four years. I believe I still have it. Last year wasn’t good. I was alternating between prop and hooker, my weight was up because of the positional switch and I was struggling with injury.
‘To miss the end-of-year tour in 2010 to undergo a neck operation was a blessing. I got on the scale after the operation and I weighed 127kg. I told myself: “Come on Barney. This is bullshit. This isn’t what you committed to in 2009. Prop or hooker … it doesn’t matter … get your neck and your conditioning sorted and go out there and help the Boks make history.” Physically, six months later, I am in as good a shape as I was in 2007.’
Smit weighs 115kg and is injury-free. The ongoing struggles playing prop haven’t gone away in Super Rugby, but it is when he has played hooker that he’s looked as good as at any stage of his career.
‘It is quite clear that hooker is my position, but I will play where needed and I will do whatever is needed to help this squad create history.
‘I am not done yet. I also know the value of experience. I went to the 2003 World Cup with youngsters hoping for a miracle. In 2007 we had more experience and it was defining to how we managed the pressure and played.
‘In 2011 we will take the most experienced Bok team to a World Cup. It will take a very good side to beat us and if one does there will be no regret from me that I didn’t walk away in 2009. But as I keep on saying, the reason to stay on was to win and not lose. And this generation of Bok player knows how to win.’
– This article first appeared in the July issue of Business Day Sport Monthly, which is distributed FREE with the newspaper on the second last Friday of the month.
590 Comments
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24 Jun 2011, 09:42 am
@willievz(willievz)-149:
sorry…4 Danie 5 Matfield
24 Jun 2011, 09:43 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-117:
15. F Steyn
14. JPP
13. JF
12. JDV
11. Habana (I hope he finds form)
10. Butch
09. FDP
08. Big Joe
07. Juan Smith
06. Brussow
05. Matfield
04. Bakkies/Bekker
03. BJ Botha
02. Bissy
01. Beast
16. Danie (covers lock, 8 and flank)
17. Alberts
18. Chilli
19. Pienaar
20. Steenkamp.
21. Van Der Linde (he can do both ends)
22. JDJ/Aplon/Lambie
24 Jun 2011, 09:45 am
@grant10(grant10)-143:
Guppy-yarpie excuses used in the S15:
Flu
Economy class seats
London
Ref
Jetlag
Curry spices
Aura not playing
Aura playing
Ash cloud
Laser lights
……
24 Jun 2011, 09:46 am
Notice how similar all our teams are!!! Willie- no place for Lambie in yr team?
24 Jun 2011, 09:46 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-17:
Exactly – It just speaks of the type of people that are the ones that run down and degrade and insult someone that has done so much for SA rugby.
And to the muppet who supported the Crusaders because the Sharks have Smit then please don’t ever support the Springboks again and don’t dare ever proudly say we won the 2007 WC.
24 Jun 2011, 09:47 am
@Divz(Divz)-139:
Brilliant .. well said.
24 Jun 2011, 09:48 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-117: What’s the right answer? (Your team)
24 Jun 2011, 09:48 am
Dont worry about Habs they have sorted the problem apparently a hand eye co-ords problem to train for WC they have given him a bunch of playboys to read
24 Jun 2011, 09:48 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-147:
Pig eating contests!!!!! LOL
24 Jun 2011, 09:49 am
Thanks folks, some of you have some really good teams.
I am a bit confused though…
If we are to select players currently in great form, where are the following names:
Adriaan Strauss
Coenie
Ashley Johnson
Sarel Pretorius
Ebersohn
Josh Strauss
Dean Greyling
Mujati
Brits
Elstadt
Hougaard
Etc.
????
24 Jun 2011, 09:49 am
@Mike H(Mike H)-150: john smit is NOT the Springboks and doesn’t own it either. if people think he shouldn’t be there it is their right! you kept quiet here when a Bok Ricky Januarie was called all sort of names and insulted, did he deserve it? did he PICK himself? why haven’t the other Springboks clubbed in money and bought him a KFC franchise to retire to?
has that stopped anyone and their dog sh*tting on ricky! get over it
24 Jun 2011, 09:49 am
@Slappes(Slappes)-145:
yeah bud… but i feel we have to support them…
have a great weekend…
gotta go earn a iiving…!!
24 Jun 2011, 09:50 am
@Mike H(Mike H)-150: stop crying like an oupa with a wet onderbroekie man.
plod called luke a cancer….did you see LW cry?
24 Jun 2011, 09:51 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-160: Oooooh. You were setting us up.
I know where this is going. Exposing the hypocrisy of the Smit-haters.
Clever.
24 Jun 2011, 09:52 am
Hahahah .. how funny and retarded .. so smit “haters” don’t (or are not allowed to support the Boks) .. hahahaha.
Perhaps we are smit “haters” because we are extremely passionate about the Boks and always want the Boks to be at their best to stand a chance of winning.
24 Jun 2011, 09:52 am
@Slappes(Slappes)-153: farken classic my man!
split my tea!
24 Jun 2011, 09:52 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-51:
S15 aint no WC mate. Very different psychologically, and a more defense game-plan normally prevails due to the intense pressure and therefore greater chances of making mistakes when trying to be expansive.
It’s liek comparing the CC to s15, chalk and cheese
24 Jun 2011, 09:53 am
@grant10(grant10)-163: No he didnt. And you know this as his exact words have been pointed out to you a number of times on this blog by various bloggers.
24 Jun 2011, 09:53 am
@Slappes(Slappes)-153: and more
- no lambie
- no deysel
- deysel undercooked
- stormers playing dirty & “ruffing them up”
- we miss dries strauss
24 Jun 2011, 09:53 am
@Paws(Paws)-165: exactly….never knew a true bok supporter had to be a smit lover either!
24 Jun 2011, 09:54 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-88:
Yes, Transie, he should. I was very excited at the prospect of PDV being coach when he started talking about the need to instil a more attacking edge to the Boks’ game style. I am really angry that he allowed the guys to bulldoze him into the old style of play. Instead of being a year ahead, we are three years and counting, behind the rest of the big guns. I cannot wait for the 3N because that is going to show us where we really are.
24 Jun 2011, 09:56 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-160:
There is only place for 22 players .. and then you need to try and find a balance.
Those are all good players and unlucky.
24 Jun 2011, 09:58 am
@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-154:
Regrettably not, Bangkok-bok.
And it is a pity because I am a big fan – his adventurism would have an energizing effect on the team that I think is missing from the Boks.
But I could not find a spot for him, or Bakkies.
Just shows you how good our team actually is if you leave those two out.
24 Jun 2011, 09:58 am
@grant10(grant10)-166: You told me SL was a girl? She is actually a He.
24 Jun 2011, 09:59 am
@Mike H(Mike H)-150:
I gave them all the respect that they deserved when the players were the best we had – must I now tolerate their mediocrity in a jersey that I passionately love just because of what they did two or three years ago? Must I turn a blind eye to their obvious abuse of the system in the knowledge that it is going to lead to disaster?
If I am wrong I will be the first to admit it and apologize to all the bloggers here that I was wrong and that I know less about the game than the little I think I know.
24 Jun 2011, 10:00 am
@Slappes(Slappes)-174: Dont worry, it happens to all of us at least once, especially in Thailand.
24 Jun 2011, 10:00 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-157:
There is no right answer, and I think that is the point.
Not one team listed is exactly the same which proves two points to me.
a) ‘Form’ who is in good form and who not is subjective.
b) A lot, and I mean a LOT of selection above includes names we have not seen on the park in months, we have no idea what their ‘current’ form is, suggesting the selection is made on historical form/presence/importance/impact (pick one).
I find the arguments regarding Smit and many other players interesting, fact is, a successful campaign in New Zealand later this year is dependent on MANY things, of which current fitness, form, condition is but one aspect.
You HAVE to consider experience/BMT, but what are the paramaters? (There is none, there is no one qualifying scale which tells you when experience outweighs form/combinations, etc)
You have to consider combinations.
You have to consider team dynamic, game plan, strategies, and a million other things.
I think the point I am trying to make is that you cannot argue with any conviction for or against the inclusion of any player on something as simple and singular as ‘form’.
You HAVE to give yourself the best chance of achieving your goal, and that might include a player not in great form currently (Spies, Steyn, Smit name them), or a player we have not seen on the park for months (Brussow, Juan Smith, Guthro, Frans Steyn, Pienaar etc).
The sum of parts are far more complex what journalists and fans sometimes makes it out to be…
24 Jun 2011, 10:00 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-169:
lol -Hey Transie, forgot bout those lol
24 Jun 2011, 10:00 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-160:
I would have Pretorius on my bench instead of Hougaard.
I thought you meant from the current extended squad.
24 Jun 2011, 10:01 am
Ok, gents- we all getting ahead of ourselves AGAIN! Let pick a match 22 for the 23rd of July Tri Nations VS Australia in Sydney. Let’s do without including injured 50/50 players (like Juan). Also, we need to include loads of youngsters. You’ve got 5 mins. GO!
24 Jun 2011, 10:03 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-177: Agree 100%.
24 Jun 2011, 10:04 am
@Slappes(Slappes)-174: STILL NOT SURE? wAY IT CARRIES ON i AM LEANING TOWARDS A HYBRID TYPE QUEEN!
Fark…sorry caps
24 Jun 2011, 10:04 am
I cannot see the sharks winning tomorrow – hoping I’m wrong – hope they packed in their own platters, so that the saders can hand their @sses back to them.
24 Jun 2011, 10:04 am
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-171: spot on i agree with what you have said …. unbeleivable how senior players have run bok rugby for last couple of years and probably crewed up our chances of winning WC. With this in mind i was surprised that Rassie took the job..is he supposed to bring back authority to the coaches? can he? Will seniors listen now or are their going to be ructions in the camp?
24 Jun 2011, 10:05 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-161: i agree with you.. i just think it is wrong to trash talk players, whether it is Ricky Januarie or Pierre Spies, or John Smit or whoever.. i understand everyone has their opinions, but the players do not pick themselves.. except Bakkies Botha (Joke)
24 Jun 2011, 10:06 am
tahs are up for this big time!
24 Jun 2011, 10:07 am
@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-180:
15 – Aplon
14 – JPP
13 – Fourie
12 – JDJ
11 – Mvovo
10 – Lambie
9 – FDP
8 – Burger (c)
7 – Alberts
6 – Brussow
5 – Danie
4 – Bekker
3 – Jannie
2 – Bismarck
1 – Greyling
Bench – Beast, Chilliboy, Waltie Vermeulen, Spies, S Pretorius, B.James, Sadie
24 Jun 2011, 10:07 am
@Slappes(Slappes)-178: howzit slappes, i see you’re good
24 Jun 2011, 10:07 am
We can all go on and on about team selection ahead of the 3N and RWC but PdV is so predictable that ther is a 99% chance the match 22 will be as follows.
15. France Steyn
14. JPP
13. Jaque Fourie
12. Jean de Villiers
11. Bryan Habana
10. Morne Steyn
9. Fourie Du Preez
8. Piere Spies
7. Juan Smith
6. Schalck Burger
5. Victor Matfield
4. Bakkies Botha
3. John Smit
2. Bismark du Plessis
1. Tandai Mtwarira
16. Chilliboy Ralapela
17. CJ van der Linde
18. Andries Bekker
19. Danie Russow
20. Francious Hougaardt
21. Butch James
22. Wynand Olivier / JDJ
May differ a little but this will basically his first choice!
24 Jun 2011, 10:12 am
fine words from Cappy Aura, i think he will lift it twice.
24 Jun 2011, 10:13 am
For the 3N id pick a good mix of young, new and experience:
15. Aplon
14. JPP
13. Ebersohn
12. JDV
11. Mvovo
10. Lambie
9. Pretorius
8. Vermeulen
7. Alberts
6. Burger
5. Bekker
4. Matfield
3. Jannie
2. Bismark
1. Greyling
16. Strauss
17. Coenie
18. Hargreaves
19. Brussow
20. FdP
21. James
22. Fourie
24 Jun 2011, 10:14 am
We can go on forever naming excellent rugby players in South Africa who are unlucky not to make the team and the guys that are still qoing to get cut to make up the 30man squad for the world cup. But at the end of the day, who are they going to replace.. I mean is a guy like Jean Deysel, who i rate highly, really going to take the place of Schalk, Juan, Brussouw, or even Alberts.. answer is No. Is a guy like Peter Grant at this late stage really going to get any game time with the likes of Butch James, Morne Steyn, and maybe Pat Lambie in the squad???? its easy to complain that certain players didnt make the squad, but who are they honestly going to replace..?
I am a Bulls fan, but I can understand the frustration with Pierre Spies, with guys like Alberts, Duane Vermeulen, Kanko, and Ashley Johnson playing excellent rugby.. its a tough decision… but at the end of the day, he has been there, he knows the game plan and experience.. and PDiv is probably going to pick him at 8 anyway, no matter what anyone says…
24 Jun 2011, 10:14 am
Boks VS Australia for the first Tri nations game:
1. Coenie
2. Chilliboy
3. Greyling
4. Elstadt
5. Bekker
6. Flo
7. Johnson
8. Kanko
9. Sarel
10. Ebersohn
11. Basson
12. JDJ
13. Ebersohn
14. Mvovu
15. Taute
Bench: Lambie, Pienaar, Liebenberg, Hargreaves, Gurthro, Daniel, Sadie
24 Jun 2011, 10:15 am
@cab(cab)-190:
At first I read Cuppa Aura, thought you were talking about a great new type of coffee!!!
24 Jun 2011, 10:16 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-189: Agree- let’s call that the ‘BLUEPRINT TEAM’ as it is 100% the team we ALL KNOW he will pick. You have it to the exact man!
24 Jun 2011, 10:17 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-191: nice young team with alot of talent and form you picked there, but i wouldnt send that team to the world cup for a final..
24 Jun 2011, 10:18 am
wow Smit is completely delusional, he things it’s about him.. he’s become terrible rugby player, end of story. Not even 5th best hooker in SA, a quota. We will lose the WC if he plays.
24 Jun 2011, 10:19 am
@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-195: Like i said, PDV is just to predictable!
24 Jun 2011, 10:20 am
@grant10(grant10)-57:
actually i think 90% of bloggers ARE all blind.
they were telling us all in 2006 why he and JW should be fired and how we were going out in the quarters – and whadda you know, 10% were right.
24 Jun 2011, 10:21 am
Smit is the 5th or 6th best hooker in SA.
But he is the best bench option we have that can cover both 1 and 2.
If you pick him on the bench, another spot goes open on the wood for an impact player such as Alberts, or another backline player.
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